Well it is important when you consider how in Canada and America things that you use on a daily basis tend to be located much further apart. When I went to Canada a few years ago it wasn't unusual to drive 50 or 60 miles to get to the supermarket/cinema etc. Add that up over a year and you realise how much more driving you would actually do. Unless you want to go self sufficient (which for 7 months in the year wouldn't be possible because of the 12 feet of snow covering your back garden)